Returning from morning meditation in his private
garden, Sanzo slipped off his sandals and stepped into the outer room of his
quarters.His attendant had set out
breakfast and the newspaper on his desk.Sanzo turned to fetch his cigarettes and reading glasses from the
bedroom, then stopped.

He's here.

Trying to ignore the way
his irrational heart began thumping, Sanzo approached the desk.A small white flower, still damp with the
dew, rested against the side of his teacup.The flower was the signal that he had come to the temple alone
today.Sanzo held back his sleeve and
picked up the blossom.It was a sagi-sou,
a white egret flower, so named because it looked like a graceful egret launched
into flight; the two fringed petals open like wings, the center straight like
the long, outstretched neck of a bird.The petal-wings trembled slightly, as if the flower meant to fly away
from him, and Sanzo realized his hand was shaking.

"Che."

Irritated at his body's
juvenile response to a bit of botany, Sanzo was of half a mind to throw the
damned thing outside and pretend he had never seen it.Instead of walking to the garden, Sanzo
found himself striding toward his bedroom.Frowning, he flung open the door.The shoji screen barked in protest against the wood frame.

Hakkai lifted his head
slightly but didn't turn around from where he stood with his back to the door,
arranging more of the sagi-sou by the window table.It almost appeared as if Hakkai was herding
a flock of white butterflies hovering over the vase.He had taken his tunic off and folded it neatly over the low
chair and his long-sleeved black shirt was untucked over his tan trousers.Standing in his bare feet, casually
arranging flowers in Sanzo's bedroom, Hakkai looked almost... domestic.Sanzo's frown deepened.He stomped the four steps over to Hakkai,
who calmly held out his hand for the flower.Hakkai had beautiful hands, with long, gracefully articulated fingers
that almost seemed too delicate for a man.It was deceiving; Sanzo knew very well what those hands were capable
of.Automatically, Sanzo handed Hakkai
the flower, nerves tingling when their fingers brushed.Hakkai examined the flower, stem bent from
being clenched in Sanzo's fist.

"Sanzo," Hakkai
began as he inserted the flower into the arrangement."If the flowers bother you, I don't have to bring them."

Sanzo crossed his arms
over his chest."The only thing
more annoying than seeing the damn flower would be not seeing one," he
grumbled.

Hakkai cocked his head at
him, and the perplexed look dissolved into a smile."Ah, I see."

"Ah, ha, ha."Hakkai wiped the corner of his eye."I apologize, Sanzo.It's just that you are so..."Hakkai smiled at him."Endearing."

"Don't make me shoot
you," Sanzo threatened.

"Ha, ha, ha,"
Hakkai broke out into fresh laughter.

Fisting the front of
Hakkai's shirt, Sanzo jerked him forward and kissed him hard.The laughter was cut off abruptly, to Sanzo's
immense satisfaction.After the first
bruising collision their lips yielded into the kiss.When Sanzo flicked his tongue out, Hakkai's mouth opened
immediately, and he thrust inside, angling his head to go deep.Sanzo released the shirt and slid his hands
up to cup Hakkai's face, holding his head in place while he hungrily devoured
Hakkai's mouth.Sanzo tasted tea and
mint and that other flavor that was simply Hakkai:instead of satisfying him, it sharpened his hunger.He groaned softly in frustration.

Why?Why did Hakkai always make him want
more?Wanting was dangerous.It led to expectation.

Hakkai moaned into his
mouth, and Sanzo greedily swallowed the sound as he felt hands slide around his
waist, pulling their bodies together.Another groan, this time because of the pressure on his erection against
Hakkai's pelvis.They swayed slightly
as they kissed, and Sanzo realized Hakkai was walking him backwards toward the
sleeping pallet.He resisted.Here, at this stage, Sanzo still had
control.He knew from experience once
Hakkai actually got him into bed, all dignity would be lost.Hakkai turned his head in Sanzo's hands and
kissed his ear, making a sound halfway between a sigh and a laugh.Then Hakkai spun them around and simply fell
backwards onto the pallet, taking Sanzo with him.

Afterwards, while Hakkai
slept, Sanzo slipped out of bed and padded over to the table.It was easy to find his blossom; the head
drooped slightly on the bent stem.Careful not to disturb Hakkai's elegant arrangement, Sanzo pulled the
flower out and left the bedroom.In his
study, Sanzo removed a piece of rice paper from the desk drawer.Trimming the stem with his thumbnail, he
fastidiously arranged the flower on the paper and folded it in half.Turning around, he pulled a thick book off
the shelves and set it down on the desk, opening it with care.He flipped past half a dozen pressed flowers
inside their folded rice paper, then found a good place and slid the newest
blossom inside.

Smoothing the rice paper
one last time with his fingertips, Sanzo carefully closed the book and replaced
it on the shelf.A year ago, Sanzo
would have walked past a field thronging with flowers and not have noticed the
colorful plants; he certainly wouldn't have known anything about them.

Now he knew the name of
every wildflower between Hakkai's home and the temple.